November 8, 15 & 22, 2026 | 9:45-10:45 a.m. | Parish Conference Center

Eternal Life: Catholic Guidance for End-of-Life Preparation

How do we prepare for the end of life in a way that reflects our Catholic faith—and how can we help our loved ones do the same?

November is a month of remembrance and hope. As we celebrate All Saints Day and commemorate All Souls Day, the Church invites us to remember those who have gone before us and reflect on our own hope of eternal life. This November, Saint Matthew invites you to explore what it means to prepare for the end of life in a way that reflects our Catholic faith.

Join us for a three-part series exploring the spiritual, practical, and financial aspects of end-of-life preparation. Learn about the Anointing of the Sick, the purpose of a Funeral Mass, Catholic teaching on end-of-life decisions, funeral planning, caring for your family and leaving a legacy, the critical role of clarity in planning, and how to best share your intentions with those you love. Each session will provide an opportunity to ask questions and connect with helpful Catholic and community resources.

This series is designed to benefit adults in all ages and stages of life—whether preparing for yourself, caring for aging parents, or helping a loved one navigate these important decisions—all with the ultimate goal of preparing for eternal life.

Come to one session or all three as we consider how thoughtful preparation can help us care for those we love and keep our hope of eternal life at the center. The three sessions are on November 8, 15, and 22 in the Saint Matthew Parish Conference Center from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Learn more about each session below.

Questions

This event is open to individuals in all stages of life—whether preparing for yourself, caring for aging parents, or helping a loved one navigate these important decisions. Feel free to invite a friend, neighbor, or family member along for this series, even if they attend another parish or are not Catholic.

Absolutely not. Whether you are traveling or perhaps just more interested in one session over the others come to as many as you’d like or are able.

If you miss a session that you wanted to attend, please reach out and we can get you some of the handouts you may otherwise have missed.

No! There will be no hard sells or financial asks during the series. These sessions are intended to educate, inform, and connect you with trusted resources to help you prepare for the end of life and have meaningful conversations with your loved ones.

During the third session on estate planning, we will discuss ways you can support nonprofits—including Saint Matthew, the Diocese, and other Catholic ministries—and how to ensure charitable gifts can be made after your death. We will not be asking you to leave your estate to the Church. The information is simply intended to help you understand your options as you make your own plans.

Not quite. However we will discuss what goes into planning a funeral and connect you with resources to ensure it is done correctly and in line with Church teaching. If you are ready to plan your funeral in advance, please reach out to Kelly Ott at kott@stmatthewtn.org to set up an appointment. Please be patient as there will be limited availability each week for advance planning.

The Diocese of Nashville and many of it’s churches are partnering with the online estate planning tool FreeWill to help parishioners create a legally valid will online for free while offering an opportunity to include a legacy gift or bequest to the church. This program will be rolling out soon and Saint Matthew will have it’s own page you can use to create your free will. One-in-six people who use FreeWill leave a gift to a non-profit. Will you be next?

We’ll see. We are in the formal inquiry stage with the Diocese of Nashville about adding a Columbarium to the Saint Matthew campus. Please fill out this brief survey to guide us as we explore this option. Please note, filling out the survey is for informational, not a commitment to purchase a niche (which aren’t available at this time regardless). We are hoping to offer an update about this project at this event.

Yes, we will have light refreshments available at each of the sessions. If you will be attending 11 a.m. Mass, be mindful of how late you eat if planning to receive the Eucharist?

About Each Session

Nov. 8: Preparing for Eternal Life

Led by Father Raines, this session will explore Catholic teaching surrounding death, dying, and eternal life. Why should we prepare for eternal life, and what does the Church teach about what happens after death? Father Raines will explore the Four Last Things—Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell—and address frequently asked questions, including when to call a priest for the Last Rites, what Catholics should know about cremation, and other practical questions surrounding death and dying.

Led by Father Raines and joined by Kelly Ott and Alex Halfmann, this session takes an in-depth look at the Catholic Funeral. What is a Catholic funeral and why is it important? What happens during the Funeral Mass, and how is it different from a vigil or wake? You’ll learn what the Church allows—and does not allow—during a funeral, as well as what you need to know when planning a funeral and how to plan your funeral in advance at Saint Matthew.

We’ll also cover the first steps to take when a loved one passes away and what to expect when working with a funeral home. Resources will be provided to help guide you through the planning process.

Please note: If you are interested in planning your funeral in advance at Saint Matthew, you can schedule an individual appointment following the session. We will not be planning individual funerals during this session.

Led by Saint Matthew parishioners Greg Pope and Liz Poplin, this session explores the importance of estate planning and practical ways to prepare for the future. Topics will include what a will is, why it is important, and what happens if you die without one. Greg and Liz will also discuss the critical role of clarity in estate planning, how thoughtful planning can help reduce confusion and conflict among family members, and how to communicate your intentions with those you love.

The session will also explore strategies that may help provide for your family, minimize taxes, and make your estate go further, as well as ways to leave a charitable gift and include Saint Matthew in your estate plans.

Meet the Presenters

Greg Pope
Greg Pope serves as Chief Administrative Officer for the Diocese of Nashville, overseeing the diocese’s financial, development, communications, facilities, IT, and human resources functions. Before joining the diocese, he spent 29 years with Ascension Saint Thomas, most recently serving as Chief Mission Integration Officer.

Liz Poplin
Liz Poplin is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch. She has previously participated as a panelist in the Diocese of Nashville’s free Make-A-Will discussion, alongside Greg Pope and other professionals, addressing wills, charitable estate planning, and leaving a legacy for family and the Church.

Disclaimer: 

These sessions are designed to educate, inform, and connect you with trusted resources to help you prepare for the end of life and have meaningful conversations with your loved ones. There will be no sales pitches or financial solicitations during these sessions. The information presented is for general educational purposes and is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. We encourage participants to consult with qualified professionals for guidance specific to their individual circumstances.

Share this Event

Have a family, friend or neighbor you think could benefit from this free series? Print out a flyer and invite them? You can download and print a flyer here.

Additional Resources

Resources from each session will be posted following the session. In the meantime, here are a few options if you would like to begin exploring Catholic end-of-life teachings.

Eternal Rest: The Art of Dying Well
Series available on formed.org
(Use our parish code 37069 to create a free account if you don’t have on already)

The Four Last Things: A Catechetical Guide to Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.
By Fr. Wade L.J. Mendez

Face To Face: Preparing to Meet God Through the Four Last Things?
By Fr. Mike Schmitz